Chicken Soup For The Soul 20th Anniversary Edition Review

Twenty years ago, motivational speakers Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen had an idea that would one day revolutionize the publishing world. They wanted to publish a book filled with heartwarming, inspirational stories from the preeminent thought leaders of the day.

The concept behind the book was simple: just as chicken soup is good for the body – a book filled with timeless inspiration is good for the soul. They decided to call that book Chicken Soup For The Soul: 101 Stories To Open The Heart and Rekindle The Spirit.

There was only one problem: no one wanted to publish their book! Time and time again, they heard the same story: “Collections of short stories (don’t) sell; the stories were too “nicey-nice”, too Pollyanna, too positive, and the title….was dumb.”

Fortunately, the authors did not give up on their dream. They believed their book of inspirational stories was an idea whose time had come. Apparently, readers around the world agreed. After being rejected by 144 publishers, the original Chicken Soup For The Soul book went on to become a New York Times Bestseller, selling over 10 million copies!

And – the story didn’t end there.

At the end of the book, the authors invited readers to share their own Chicken Soup stories – and the stories started pouring in!

Now – 20 years later – Chicken Soup For The Soul has become one of the most well known and best loved book series in the world! There are more than 200 Chicken Soup titles in the series – over 100 million copies in print – with Chicken Soup books published in 54 languages worldwide!

I remember when the first Chicken Soup For The Soul book was published.

I remember buying and falling in love with the original Chicken Soup For The Soul book.

I remember the thrill of reading stories like The Rules For Being Human, Puppies For Sale, and A Legacy Of Love for the first time.

I remember the joy of sharing my favorite Chicken Soup For The Soul books with my family and friends.

Now, I’m thrilled to introduce this series – starting with The Original! Chicken Soup For The Soul 20th Anniversary Edition – to a whole new generation of readers!

It’s hard to imagine improving on a classic – but in this case, the authors have pulled it off! The Original! Chicken Soup For The Soul 20th Anniversary Edition contains all of the classic stories that 20 years of readers have grown to known and love – plus more! In addition to all of your favorite original stories, the authors have added 20 bonus stories that are destined to become new classics over the next 20 years!

The stories in this book are divided into several categories:

On Love

Learning To Love Yourself

On Parenting

On Learning

Live Your Dream

Overcoming Obstacles

Eclectic Wisdom

As you look over the Contents, new material is bolded so you can easily distinguish what’s been added!

If you are new to the Chicken Soup For The Soul series of books, The Original! Chicken Soup For The Soul 20th Anniversary Edition book is the perfect place to start!

If you are familiar with the series, you will want to walk down memory lane and into the future by adding The Original! Chicken Soup For The Soul 20th Anniversary Edition to your collection!

In the Introduction to this new book, Heidi Krupp writes:

That’s what Chicken Soup for the Soul is all about: sustenance through stories that are meant to elevate us and nurture us and give us the power to live some new stories of our own. It’s a recipe for enjoying life, making the most of yourself, and sharing your discoveries with the people you care about – even if you haven’t met them yet.

There should be a place on everyone’s shelf for the Chicken Soup For The Soul 20th Anniversary Edition book!

Would you like the chance to own a copy of the Chicken Soup For The Soul 20th Anniversary Edition? I’m excited to offer not one, not two, but three of my readers the chance to win this very special book!

To enter this giveaway, submit your entries through the Rafflecopter form. This giveaway is open to ALL Create With Joy readers, 18 years and older, through Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at Midnight PST.

Chicken Soup Rafflecopter Entry Form – Click Below

Additonal Information

The winner will be chosen using a random number generator. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. If the winning entry does not comply with all conditions set forth in the entry/giveaway, another entry will be drawn. The winner will be contacted via e-mail and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. The sponsor is solely responsible for prize fulfillment. The winner releases Create With Joy from all liability associated with this product/contest.

No purchase is necessary. Void where prohibited by law. All decisions by Create With Joy are final. The complete Terms and Conditions are listed on the Rafflecopter form. By submitting an entry, you are indicating that you have read and agree to these Official Rules.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Shelton Interactive for review purposes. I was not compensated or required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I’ve read several of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books including – Chicken Soup for the Soul for Moms, Chicken Soup for the Soul for People with Disabilities, Chicken Soup for the Soul – Mothers and Daughters,…I have about 6 or 7 “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books in my collection. The new 20th Anniversary book sounds great!
Thanks for the chance to win!

I have to be honest and say No, I never had the urge to read these books. Don’t know why, they just did not seem to fit me. But my granddaughter loves them and I thought I would try to get it for her. She has several of them and I actually am the one who bought them for her but never peeked inside!

I love the Chicken Soup books! They are just so wonderful. After a particularly long day, I just turn the pages of the book, to find some story that I have not read in a while. The stories always bring a smile to my face.

This books sounds not only interesting but perfect for a first time reader during the summer months and getting away from TV reruns. Please enter me in the contest and I hope I’m one of the lucky winners.

Great review of the series:)
I always enjoyed the CS books when they first came out…now however, I have to admit to being put off by them b/c I have submitted to them numerous times ( 19 to be exact). I’ve never been accepted and the last time I sent a piece in ( which which will remain the last time) I actually got a response that said my piece was “too polished” and that CS readers are not looking for high quality writing, just inspirational pieces based on writers’ experiences…… Hmmmmm…
I buried that rejection in the “trash forever” bin..
It sort of ruined CS for me now.

However, I know others do enjoy CS and I wish you luck with your giveaway! Sorry it took me all week to click over….life’s been crazy. THANK YOU for linking with the Memoir Monday hop! I so appreciate it and I hope you don’t mind a dissenting opinion.
Who knew CS would cause a stir, right?? LOL
Be well and God bless!

I’m sorry that you have been turned down so many times during the submission process and that it’s affected you so personally.
Being rejected as a writer is HARD!

When I read the books, I think of many of the stories as being “homespun” – the kind of folksy tales that you might hear your grandparent’s tell while you’re sitting on the porch during the summer sipping sea, the kind that inspire you in a heart-warming way – the feeling you’d get after watching The Waltons or Little House On The Prairie (uh oh – time warp!)

When I read the feedback that you shared – that your piece was “too polished” – I hear the editors saying that your writing is GOOD – it’s just not written in the tone or voice that they want for that particular book.

I know that, as a writer, getting rejected stings and discourages the best of us. However, based on what I know of the publishing world, Chris, the fact that someone took the time to write you and give you that kind of feedback is GOOD – it means that, amid the thousands and thousands of entries they get, they actually wanted you to know that YOUR writing is “polished” and “high quality” – which means you have the ability to either read/adjust your writing style to their publication – OR – find a publication that is better suited to YOUR writing style and voice!

I share this to ENCOURAGE you (and any other writers who are dealing with rejection) to NOT give up.

I have read and own several Chicken Soup for the Soul books, including two for kids, which I have used for teaching Christian characteristics and principles. I have never owned the first one and so I would be thrilled to win a copy!

I’ve never read any of the series. Can you believe it? I think I must be one of the last on Earth. Since my cats eat Cat Food for the Cat Lover’s Soul, I think it’s high time I read it, and why not an anniversary edition.

I’ve read a few Chicken Soup books, and even have a couple stories coming out in some October issues… I submitted for this anniv edition (though not selected) and would love to read the stories that made it! I love the idea behind this book… stories inspired by other Chicken soup stories of the past…. Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂

Thank you! And thanks for asking. Yes… they are to be in one titled, “It’s Christmas!” and another, “Think Positive for Kids.” (Both to come out in October.)

I loved your wonderfully encouraging response to the writer who has tried them 19 times and felt rejected. (I could relate because I tried many times and was about to give up just before they accepted one.) I agree that the note they sent really speaks encouragement to her writing! It’s true that they tend to edit and want a certain tone… They want it to read as we speak and sometimes won’t allow more literary imagery I’d love to incorporate. Still, I do think most of the recent stories I’ve read in C.S. were excellently written, just not high literature.

I’m so excited to hear that Pam – I am slated to review and host giveaways for both of those books! 🙂

I also appreciate you sharing your story with us (that you were rejected many times also before you finally got accepted).

I think also, at times, the process isn’t always about us – it’s about what a person is looking for in any given moment. Take those reality singing competitions like The Voice, for example. A lot of times, when the judges do their jobs right, you have contenders fighting for a spot where EVERYONE is good and it isn’t a matter of one person being better than another – it boils down to choice and preference. If you had three editors picking stories for the same book – you’d probably end up with three different books!

So true! That reminds me…the Christmas story they selected of mine is actually one I submitted two years ago. They really do keep stories on file and go to them at later dates, so that is another hope for those who feel “rejected” when stories aren’t accepted there.

I have read a few Chicken Soup for the Soul books like the Chicken Soup for the Christmas spirit. I am excited about winning the 2oth anniversary edition because I want to see what stories they picked and read the 20 new stories .

Join Our Circle Of Friends

Welcome To Create With Joy

Create With Joy is an inspirational blog that celebrates creativity in all its facets! Inside you’ll find beautiful paper crafts to inspire you; mouth-watering recipes to entice you; stimulating books and resources to enrich you; and so much more. You’ll find communities to connect, to make friends, and to share your creative gifts. So come inside – look around – and make yourself at home. May this blog inspire you to live more passionately and infuse creativity in all that you do!

We Are All Creative

Creativity is not necessarily a special calling or gift from God to the few, it is a natural expression of the fact that we are created in the image of God, who is the Creator. It is His thumbprint on our souls, a part of His signature. The real question is, “How will I live out this fingerprint of God on my life?”

Copyright Notice

Create With Joy features original writing, art, and photography. All content is shared solely for your personal inspiration. This site is copyrighted; all rights are reserved. You may not save, download, copy, or reproduce any part of this site in any way, form, or means, without prior written permission.